Brian J. Potocki

The City of Gastonia's 2016-2017 Adopted Annual Budget serves as a comprehensive financial and operational roadmap for the fiscal year. It is guided by core principles of Financial Responsibility, Customer Service, and Economic Development. Key objectives include ensuring adequate funding for city services and infrastructure, optimizing customer service, maintaining sound financial health, and fostering sustained economic growth and neighborhood improvement. The plan also details strategies for managing utilities, employee compensation, and capital projects to achieve the City's vision of being a model for civic leadership, promoting safety, economic vitality, cultural richness, and sustainability.

This document outlines the City of Gastonia's strategic investments for Fiscal Year 2025, with a longer-term outlook for solid waste services extending to FY 2029. Key strategic areas include significant budgetary allocations for Solid Waste, Public Utilities, and Street Resurfacing. The plan also focuses on human capital strategies, such as a 4% salary increase and a 1% career development program for staff recruitment and retention. Specific initiatives for Solid Waste management include operational expansion, a comprehensive five-year vehicle replacement plan, and exploring sustainability options and transfer station opportunities. The document details financial projections and proposed adjustments to enterprise fund rates for Water & Sewer and Solid Waste.

This document outlines the City of Gastonia's strategic goals and objectives for 2022-2024, built upon a vision for civic leadership, community engagement, safety, economic vitality, inclusiveness, cultural richness, and overall sustainability. The plan focuses on strategic pillars including Infrastructure Investment, Healthy Community, Good Government, Safety, Community Identity, and Economic Vitality, aiming to provide high-level, cost-effective services by prioritizing financial responsibility, customer service, economic development, and human resources.

The City of Gastonia's Safety Action Plan provides a roadmap to prioritize and implement safety improvement strategies aimed at achieving a 50% reduction in fatal and serious injury crash rates by 2038, with an ultimate goal of zero roadway deaths by 2050. The plan outlines strategies focusing on six key areas: Intersections, Multilane Roads, Vulnerable Road Users, Speed Management, Nighttime Conditions, and Distracted Driving, to create a safe, reliable, and connected transportation system for all users.

The council conducted a budget work session covering various fiscal and operational topics. Key discussions included the FY2026-27 budget calendar, compensation and retirement system adjustments, health insurance management and on-site clinic services, and the implementation of the Safe City Plan with Flock Safety. The session also addressed fire department expansion priorities, transportation project strategies using existing fund balances, and equipment procurement plans. Additionally, the council reviewed proposed fee schedule adjustments for water and sewer services, solid waste collection, and transit fare structures, including potential service expansions.